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WaPo

Analysis: Spending by independent groups had little election impact

A clutch of billionaires and privately held corporations fueled more than $1 billion in spending by super PACs and nonprofits, unleashing a wave of attack ads unrivaled in U.S. history. Yet Republican groups, which dominated their opponents, failed to achieve their two overarching goals: unseating President Obama and returning the Senate to GOP control.

In the Senate, Republicans lost ground, after pouring well over $100 million in outside money into seven races that went to Democrats. In the presidential race, GOP nominee Mitt Romney nearly matched Obama with the help of outside money, yet he lost decisively in the end.

Even in the House, which remains comfortably in Republican hands, GOP money groups struck out repeatedly in individual races they targeted, according to the Post analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics. In 24 of the most competitive House contests, Democratic candidates and their allies were outspent in the final months but pulled out victories anyway. That compares with eight competitive races in which Republicans were outspent and won.

Spending by outside groups, it turns out, was the dog that barked but did not bite.

I never base my decisions on how much money someone raises and I don’t pay attention to political ads. If you want to make a difference, spend the money hiring people to walk door to door talking to people. Talk to independent’s, too, not just people of your own party.

Karl Rove needs to retire. Crossroads spent hundreds of millions and had nothing to show for it. And when Fox News called Ohio only moments after Rove predicted a Romney win, Rove had an on-air meltdown.

But negative ads obviously work if O-I-H-O’s outcome is any indication. Mitt was hammered all spring and summer by attacks ads which in the end allowed Obama to eek out a win in that state. Living in Texas, I didn’t really see any Presidential or Senate ads(aside from the Dewhurst stuff in the GOP primary), but we can’t be afraid to take the gloves off in future elections. Go after their side on substance and use their own words against them, but we also have to accept the fact that the personal crap works. Look at how successful it was against Kerry in 2004 and Romney in 2012.

Karl Rove needs to retire. Crossroads spent hundreds of millions and had nothing to show for it. And when Fox News called Ohio only moments after Rove predicted a Romney win, Rove had an on-air meltdown.

Outlander on November 8, 2012 at 3:06 AM

My favorite ad from him was the one with the woman, sitting in her upper middle class house, with a redone kitchen, and a flat panel tv in the back, plenty of food and “stuff” available.. and she says..

“My family can’t afford another 4 years of barack obama..”

Meanwhile some college student living in a 1br apartment has to eat noodles because of his student loans, but eff him right?

This is one of the most uplifting data points of the election. These billionaires believe that you can just throw money at a pesky problem, like the political will of the American people. And they were wrong. That is awesome. The glut of ads causes people to tune out, no one actually *watches* political ads.

I don’t know if I agree with the premise. NH was spammed by ads from dem supporting outside PACs, including planned parenthood. I find that especially disgusting since PP gets tax money, which apparently helped to pay for these ads.

Spending by outside groups, it turns out, was the dog that barked but did not bite.

After Roberts flipped on obozocare there was no need to continue pushing the bullying tactics that obozo had used regarding Citizens United. And those tactics were never about Citizens United, as we see here it has no real effect, but to intimidate the spineless Roberts into caving on obozocare.